New Release: Code of Conduct by April White + Review!

“Sharp writing, layered characters, and wonderful tension flow through this book, along with a super-swoon-worthy hero and a kick ass heroine I just love.” -- Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today bestselling author

Code of Conduct, the first in the romantic suspense Cipher Security series of standalones, from April White is available now!

There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I.

1) P.I. is not her last name, it's her job title,

2) Her specialty is catching cheaters, and

3) She's a superhuman - kind of.

Gabriel is a security expert for Cipher Security, and a former UN Peacekeeper with a fierce protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I.

Their attraction is like an elephant in a room full of breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts, and maybe their lives, is the most fragile thing of all.

'Code of Conduct' is a full-length romantic suspense novel, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Security series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Universe.

Review:

3 stars

***

Code of Conduct is book one in the Cipher Security series, which is a spin off of the Penny Reid book universe. This was a pretty good book, but I had a few issues with it. Code of Conduct is Gabriel and Shane's book. Gabriel is a former UN Peacekeeper and he works for Cipher security, which is Quinn Sullivan's security company from the Knitting in the City series. Shane is an amputee and a private investigator that mainly catches cheating spouses. She is working on a job and posing as a woman on a date with her client's husband when she meets Gabriel. His company is employed for security by that husband. Shane does her job and manages to escape, but Gabriel is intrigued by the mystery of her. When Shane's client disappears, she and Gabriel work together to solve her disappearance. As they spend time together and get to know each other, they fall for each other.

Code of Conduct has a good story. I liked Gabriel and Shane. They were a diverse, interesting couple with lots of layers to their characters. I found the book a little too long, at over 400 pages, and a little too slow at times. I felt it needed some editing down. The relationship is definitely a slow burn, bordering on just slow without a ton of burn or chemistry. I liked the end of the book more than the beginning, because there is more action towards the end. Still, the writing was good and I enjoyed the series set-up. There is an interesting mystery as well. I did feel like the author was trying a bit too hard to be super smart and Penny Reid-like, but lacking the humor of her writing. I also felt like there were some political commentary that was unnecessary. I don't like it to be included in my romance, since one of the reasons I read is as an escape from reality. I just found the book to be a little too heavy and a little too PC. But I still enjoyed it. At the core was a good romance between two lonely people who deserved to find love and a lasting relationship in each other.

Overall, I enjoyed Code of Conduct. I am definitely curious where the rest of the series will go with the Cipher security company and I look forward to more from the Smartypants romance books in the future.

Download your copy today!

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About April White

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a shipwreck, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. She and her husband share their home in Southern California with two extraordinary boys and a lifetime collection of books.

Her first novel, Marking Time is the 2016 winner of the Library Journal Indie E-Book Award for YA Literature, and all five books in the Immortal Descendants series are on the Amazon Top 100 lists in Time Travel Romance and Historical Fantasy.

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Blog Tour: Reaper by Larissa Ione + Excerpt & Review!

"Reaper is . . . Epic. Thrilling. Amazing. No one can suck me into a story like Larissa Ione." -- Donna Grant, New York Times bestselling author”

For love, he’ll watch the world burn.

For revenge, he’ll light the match.

New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione returns to her fan favorite Demonica Series with REAPER, available now!

THE DEMONICA SERIES RETURNS…

He is the Keeper of Souls. Judge, jury, and executioner. He is death personified.

He is the Grim Reaper.

A fallen angel who commands the respect of both Heaven and Hell, Azagoth has presided over his own underworld realm for thousands of years. As the overlord of evil souls, he maintains balance crucial to the existence of life on Earth and beyond. But as all the realms gear up for the prophesied End of Days, the ties that bind him to Sheoul-gra have begun to chafe.

Now, with his beloved mate and unborn child the target of an ancient enemy, Azagoth will stop at nothing to save them, even if it means breaking blood oaths and shattering age-old alliances.

Even if it means destroying himself and setting the world on fire…

REVIEW:

3.5 stars

***

Reaper is a good addition to the Demonica world. This is a continuation of Azagoth, the Grim Reaper, and Lilliana's story, originally told in Azagoth . In Reaper, the couple is already together and Lilliana is pregnant, but an evil force tears them apart. Azagoth is willing to do anything it takes to get her back, even if it means destroying the world.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favorite in the series. There is a lot of action. I found it entertaining, if a bit slow at times in story progression. But I wanted a bit more focus on the romance. The couple is separated through much of the book. There was so much going on besides the romance and so many other characters focused on, which I found confusing at times. Still, I liked Lilliana and Azagoth together. I never doubted their love for each other. I found their story to have a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this was an entertaining, action packed read. I love this series and I look forward to more from Ms. Ione in the future!

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KWoCY7

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Excerpt

“I have no doubt Azagoth will stop at nothing to save Lilliana,” Reaver admitted. “But he knows that if he releases Satan, Satan will kill Lilliana. He can’t risk it.” “What do you suggest we do then?” “I can talk to him,” Reaver said. “Hawkyn requested information about a fallen angel named Flail. I’ll use that as an excuse to get to Azagoth.” A flock of gulls squawked as the birds circled the palace, looking for handouts from Caila’s guests, and Metatron had to raise his voice to be heard. “You said he sealed off Sheoul-gra.” “Hawkyn will open it to me if I can convince him that I’m not there to destroy his father.” It shouldn’t be a problem; Hawkyn wouldn’t have contacted Reaver at all if he weren’t sure Reaver could handle the situation without killing anyone. “And if Azagoth is out of control?” Metatron asked. “Will you destroy him?” “Isn’t it a little early to be discussing that?” Metatron rolled his shoulders, probably not even aware he’d done it, but Reaver knew he was testing his wings and his powers, feeling them out at the thought that shit might get really fucking biblical real soon. “He can’t be allowed to release Satan,” he said, fire in his tone. “And he can’t be allowed to escape Sheoul-gra.” “Would escaping be such a bad thing?” Reaver wasn’t Azagoth’s biggest fan, but the guy had been trapped for thousands of years. He’d proven that he was capable of wrangling souls and navigating the politics of both Sheoul and Heaven. He’d chilled out a lot since getting mated, too. Seemed like it wouldn’t be a big deal if he lived where he wanted and commuted to work. Metatron appeared troubled that Reaver would even ask such an apparently insane question. “Yes, it could be bad.” “Why?” Reaver asked. “I mean, I get that he’s an asshole, but a lot bigger assholes are running around loose.” Like the fallen angels who had killed Wraith. He clenched his fists, wishing he was out hunting them right now. “Azagoth signed contracts,” Metatron said. “Contracts sealed with the powers of Heaven and Sheoul. We don’t know what kind of damage we’d take if he made that big of a breach.” Sounded kind of minor to Reaver, but he knew well how seriously Heaven took broken rules and breaches of contract. They also weren’t fond of Heaven being damaged, which was why Revenant, while technically welcome here, wasn’t…welcome. His presence destroyed everything around him. “Okay,” Reaver said. “Let me grab the info on Flail and give Hawkyn a call. I’ll let you know what happens. And, Uncle?” Metatron inclined his head. “I want this to stay between us for now.” Silence stretched. Not even the gulls called out, and Reaver started to sweat. Metatron had always been fair and by-the-book, which was probably part of why Reaver had been such a rule breaker as a youth. And beyond. Hell, he still was, he just wasn’t as reckless about it now. Responsibility was a bitch.

About Larissa Ione

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Connect with Larissa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLarissaIone

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New Release: A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting + Review!

“A sexy, heartwarming read!” —Elle Kennedy, New York Times bestselling author

A Lie for a Lie, an all-new sexy second chance romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

REVIEW:

4.25 stars

****

This was a great book! A Lie for a Lie is RJ/Rook and Lainey's story. RJ and Lainey meet on a plane to Alaska. Lainey is a small town, very sheltered woman, who is doing college online and is in Alaska to do research. RJ is a pro hockey player who is staying in his family's cabin to relax before his season and to ice fish. The two meet and have instant chemistry. RJ is glad that Lainey doesn't know who he is, as he is used to girls liking him for his job. Instead Lainey likes him for him. So he lies and tells her that he is a farmer. But as the two spend lots of time together in Alaska, he plans on telling her the truth, because they both really like each other. However, before they can exchange information, RJ is called away for a family emergency, abruptly ending their time together. Over the next year, they look for each other, but neither know enough information to find each other. So imagine their shock when they meet again at the Chicago aquarium, where Lainey is now working. And she has a huge, life changing surprise for him. Over time, the two reconnect and fall in love.

I loved this book. Lainey and RJ were so sweet together. Neither really wanted anyone else during their separation. They pined for each other and were so glad to find each other again. Their circumstances were different when they reconnected and Lainey is cautious, but after a bit she saw how much RJ missed her and cared about her. I loved the two of them together. They had great chemistry. This book has one of my favorite tropes ( (view spoiler) ) and I loved the way it worked out in this book. The writing and story were very good. There is also a few cameos of Pucked characters, which I enjoyed as well.

A Lie for a Lie was a really sweet, simple story and an entertaining, easy read. There was little angst, despite the unusual circumstances, which I love. This book ranks right up there with my favorite Helena Hunting books. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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New Release: Beast by Lexi Blake + Review!

Beast, the second installment of the sexy paranormal A Faery Story Series from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake, writing as Sophie Oak is available now!

A playboy who needs to grow up

Fresh from his latest tabloid scandal, vampire playboy Dante Dellacourt has been given an ultimatum. Either he takes a consort and settles down, or his family will disown him. Unwilling to lose everything he has, he reluctantly agrees to find a wife. Marriage is just another kind of contract, after all. No one said anything about love being a part of the bargain.

An outcast who has only known hardship

Exiled by her pack, Kaja is a werewolf without a home. Her life was never easy in the frozen tundra she grew up in, but it was familiar. Waking up in a foreign landscape, surrounded by bright lights, loud noises, and far too many people has left her overwhelmed. Frightened and with no one to trust, she savagely fights to get free of this strange new world.

A passion strong enough to change them both

Called to defend the gnomes of the marketplace, Dante is almost blinded by the radiant light coming off the fierce werewolf. Kaja glows like no consort he has ever seen. Gorgeous and wild, she calls to him in ways he had not dreamed possible. For Kaja, she finds in Dante a man unlike any she has ever known. They could not be more different, but she finds him irresistible.

In order to claim his werewolf bride, Dante must first discover how to overcome their differences. Will he tame his ferocious beauty, or will she unleash his inner beast?

REVIEW:

3.5 stars

***

Beast is the second book in the Faery series. This is Dante and Kaja's story. Dante is a vampire who is struggling to change his spoiled, rich, playboy image. His family orders him to settle down and find a consort or they will disown him. He lives on the vampire plane, but he finds himself on the refuge plane to find a consort at auction. There he meets Kaja. She is a werewolf and has had a hard life, outcast from her pack for no fault of her own. She is confused and lost, but happy to find Dante, who cares for her like no other. They both feel a connection to each other, but they must overcome their vast differences, and, of course, they fall in love along the way.

I accidentally read this book first in the series, instead of book one, Bound. So I was a little confused on the world-building. I definitely recommend reading the books in order. Still, I did enjoy this book and found it entertaining. I found Kaja and Dante to be a good match with great chemistry. Kaja was very unworldly and innocent in many things, but she was she was still a grown woman who felt a strong primal connection to Dante. I did find him to have a few jerky moments at times and I didn't totally love his character, but I liked him more by the end as he matured and took responsibility for himself. I would have liked a little bit more resolution of the couple's relationship at the end. But I still found the book to be a sexy, enjoyable fantasy romance.

Overall, Beast was an enjoyable read. I didn't quite like it as much as Bound, but I still liked it. I look forward to more from this fun series!

Download your copy today!

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About Lexi Blake

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem.

Connect with Lexi

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New Release: Reaper by Larissa Ione + Review!

 

 “Phenomenal! The world building. The romance. The epic storyline. Everything about this book is blockbuster worthy!” —Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times bestselling author

For love, he’ll watch the world burn.

For revenge, he’ll light the match.

New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione returns to her fan favorite Demonica Series with REAPER, available now!

THE DEMONICA SERIES RETURNS…

He is the Keeper of Souls. Judge, jury, and executioner. He is death personified.

He is the Grim Reaper.

A fallen angel who commands the respect of both Heaven and Hell, Azagoth has presided over his own underworld realm for thousands of years. As the overlord of evil souls, he maintains balance crucial to the existence of life on Earth and beyond. But as all the realms gear up for the prophesied End of Days, the ties that bind him to Sheoul-gra have begun to chafe.

Now, with his beloved mate and unborn child the target of an ancient enemy, Azagoth will stop at nothing to save them, even if it means breaking blood oaths and shattering age-old alliances.

Even if it means destroying himself and setting the world on fire…

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KWoCY7

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2Z36k0Y

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ReaperLI

Nook: http://bit.ly/2ZkgV3b

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ZioEOU

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2HfUiXp

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2KUZ51n

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Zhf4jp

REVIEW:

3.5 stars

***

Reaper is a good addition to the Demonica world. This is a continuation of Azagoth, the Grim Reaper, and Lilliana's story, originally told in Azagoth . In Reaper, the couple is already together and Lilliana is pregnant, but an evil force tears them apart. Azagoth is willing to do anything it takes to get her back, even if it means destroying the world.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favorite in the series. There is a lot of action. I found it entertaining, if a bit slow at times in story progression. But I wanted a bit more focus on the romance. The couple is separated through much of the book. There was so much going on besides the romance and so many other characters focused on, which I found confusing at times. Still, I liked Lilliana and Azagoth together. I never doubted their love for each other. I found their story to have a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this was an entertaining, action packed read. I love this series and I look forward to more from Ms. Ione in the future!

About Larissa Ione

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Connect with Larissa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLarissaIone

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/larissa-ione

Twitter: https://twitter.com/larissaione

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2k0AKOi

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Website: http://www.larissaione.com/

New Release: Awk-weird by Avery Flynn + Review!

There’s more to me than just being awk-weird. I own my own flower shop, have some great friends, and I have my eye on adopting the most adorable kitten. But sadly, hot guys don’t tend to be blown away by my trivia-spouting, dorky self.

So, when a Thor-lookalike who happens to be a professional hockey player hits on me at my bestie's wedding rehearsal party ... You better believe I climbed that tree like a cat. And the face that it happened not once, not twice, but three times? Yeah, that's pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a woman like me. 

There's zero chance I'll end up ever seeing him again...right? 

Until the pregnancy test comes up positive. What happens next?

Oh my God, I wish I knew...

Get Your Copy NOW:

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REVIEW:

3.5 stars

***

Awk-weird was a cute read! This is Tess and Cole's story. Tess is a quirky, awkward, trivia-buff who owns a flower shop and who meets Cole at her good friend's wedding. Cole is a pro hockey player and has recently broken up with his on again-off again girlfriend (again). The two meet and have a sexy one night stand, but neither think anything will come of it. Fate has other plans when Tessa finds out she is pregnant. When her apartment floods soon after, she moves in with Cole while it is being repaired and so they can get to know each other and become friends before their baby comes. Along the way, they find they have great chemistry and are really good together, so they begin to fall for each other. They both have some issues to overcome before they can make things work between them, but it all works out in the end and Tess and Cole get their HEA.

I liked Cole and Tess's characters. Tess, especially, was endearing, quirky and relatable. They were very unique and fun together. I did feel like there was a little too much back and forth between them. Both were frustrating at times and stubborn. I wanted them to see the truth about their feelings for each other sooner. There was a bit too much focus on their personal flaws, like Tess feeling like everything was temporary, due to her unstable childhood, and Cole's need for routine and structure. I felt those flaws were harped on throughout the book, instead of being resolved quicker. Cole is a creature of habit, possibly having some OCD tendencies. He fixates on his routine in a big way. He has an on again off again girlfriend that he had been with since childhood. He has always imagined he would eventually marry her. When he meets Tess, he is "off" with his ex, but he has no doubt they will get back together. Even when he and Tess have their hookup, he still thinks he will get back together with his ex, and through much of the events of the book, he still feels the same way. Eventually, he does realize that he is clinging to that routine and he didn't really love his ex anymore. His ex also does not pursue him or act interested in getting back together with him. So I wasn't extremely bothered by that ex drama, but I was bothered by the fact that he never really explained all of that to Tess. I wanted him to tell her that he no longer loved or wanted his ex, because he let her think otherwise and the ex is brought up very often. It bothered me that this plot point wasn't fully resolved. I felt it added a little too much angst. I felt very sorry for Tess. Also, the big conflict and the way it wrapped up was not my favorite. I didn't feel like Cole apologized for his part and I felt like Tess apologized too much, when not everything was her fault. I felt like she was made out to be the bad guy, when she was not, in my eyes. I did like the first 75% of the book better than the ending. The resolution was too short and the couple was not officially together until the very end. This all had me knocking the rating down from a 4 to a 3.5.

Still, most of the book was very enjoyable. I liked the slow burn, funny, sweet and easy feel of the book. The story was cute and I love a surprise pregnancy. I especially liked Tess's knowledge of fun facts and trivia. I was happy that Tess and Cole were able to work out their relationship, fall in love, get over their issues and pasts, and make a family with their baby.

Overall, Awk-weird was a good read. I found Tess and Cole's story sweet and fun, despite a few issues I had. This was my first read by Avery Flynn and I will try her again in the future.

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are great with a quip and relatable heroines who are feisty, fierce and fantastic.

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Blog Tour: Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen + Review & Excerpt!

"Friends to lovers at its best-- a sweet indulgence I couldn’t put down!” - R.S. Grey, USA Today Bestselling Author

Baking Me Crazy, the first in the romantic comedy Donner Bakery Series of standalones, from Karla Sorensen is available now!

I'm Levi Buchanan, and until five years ago, I thought the legend of my family's curse was a load of crazy, Southern nonsense.

No curse can make you fall in love at first sight. No curse can force a true, deep, passionate, all-consuming love that will haunt you all the days of your life.

Then I met Jocelyn Abernathy and I realized how completely wrong I was.

The problem is, Jocelyn guards her feelings like well-armed soldier. She's the most beautiful, stubborn, infuriating woman I've ever met. Every time she talks, I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But I can't.

Because when we met, she didn't need true love. She needed a best friend. And that's what I've been to her... for five years.

But when Jocelyn meets a handsome stranger her first day working at Donner Bakery and she lets him buy her a dill pickle cupcake, I realize with ominous regret that I may have missed my window with my best friend.

If I can't get her to see past our friendship, my new curse may be to watch the love of my life move on with someone else.

'Baking Me Crazy' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kwvT7z

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2ku8Pq7

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BakingMeCrazy

Nook: http://bit.ly/2lEMEh0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lU7066

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2klKiUj

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2k0ZaqL

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2ku91Wg

REVIEW:

3.5-4 stars

****

Baking Me Crazy is the first book in the Donner Bakery series, which is set in Penny Reid's Green Valley/Winston Brothers world, and is written by Karla Sorensen. This was the first book I've read by Ms. Sorensen. I wasn't sure what to expect but I did enjoy this book. It does not have quite the same exact feel as the Winston brothers series, but it is an enjoyable small town romance.

This is Levi and Joss's story. Joss's family moves to town when she is in high school. She is in a wheelchair due to a disease that has affected her ability to walk. She is participating in wheelchair basketball, when she meets Levi, who is one of the coaches and recently graduated from high school himself. He is immediately attracted to Joss and asks her out, but she turns him down as she is still dealing with being differently abled and not in a good place to date. Instead they become the best of friends. For five years, they are inseparable. Levi dates, but Joss is never ready to date. Until she finally meets a guy she is interested in, who turns out to be her new physical therapist. Then Levi realizes he doesn't want to be in the friend zone anymore and wants her to give him a second chance for love.

I enjoyed this story and the writing. I liked Levi. Joss was a little prickly but I liked her more as the book went on, too. I did feeling like the unrequited love aspect went on too long. There was too much of a slow burn. Even at well over 50%, Joss was still crushing on her PT. So there was a good bit of OM drama in that respect. But this was still an enjoyable book. It was cute and an easy read with a little angst added in. The fact that Joss was differently abled and how she dealt with it was eye-opening and interesting. I liked seeing Green Valley and Penny's characters from another perspective.

Overall, Baking Me Crazy was an enjoyable read. I liked Joss and Levi as a couple. They really fit together and I was happy that they were able to move from friends to lovers and find happiness together. They were fun and sweet. I enjoyed my first foray into the Smarty Pants romance world and look forward to more!

Excerpt:

"Besides, this is my best friend perk. Shouldn't I get perks in baked goods?"

She cut me a look. "You've been getting those perks for two years, Buchanan. Don't even pretend you didn't put on a solid ten pounds that first year I started baking." Quite pointedly, she looked at my stomach, which we both knew was covered in muscle.

“That's rude," I mumbled under my breath. I flexed my bicep. Nero licked my elbow since it was right in front of him. "Yeah, ten pounds in my left arm maybe."

The noise she made roughly translated to you are ridiculous. She made that sound at me a lot. Of course, the sad truth of the matter was that I was ridiculous.

Not once in the past five years had my feelings lessened for her. I had just learned to live with them. In my junior year of undergrad, I was taking a class on brain pathology in injuries, and a man came to talk to us about how he learned to live without his right arm after it was amputated.

He told us about how, even years after he lost his arm, his brain still triggered sensations to the limb that was no longer there. The adult brain, in particular, struggled to reorganize after the loss of a limb, and given that four out of five amputees suffer from phantom pain symptoms, some of which were incredibly debilitating, it was a lesson that stuck with me.

I wasn't fool enough to think that me loving Jocelyn was on par with a man who’d lost his arm, but something about the way he talked plucked at a chord inside me. Sometimes my brain struggled to remember that we were just friends.

She'd never dated, never even hinted that she wanted to. She'd never given me a longing glance. Never stared at my mouth like she wondered what it tasted like.

But my hands never, not once, stopped wanting to reach for hers. My fingers always, always itched to dig into her crazy hair and see what the curve of her scalp felt like.

My brain knew what this relationship was, but sometimes, the signals it sent to the rest of my body didn't always match up with the truth of our situation. We worked out together a lot, Joss and I, and when she got frustrated with the limitations of her body, I always wanted to wrap my arms around her.

I wanted to pull her into the curve of my body, absorb her dissatisfaction into my skin, and carry it for her. That was the irony when she made noises like that.

She had absolutely no clue how ridiculous I really was.

About Karla Sorensen

Karla Sorensen has been an avid reader her entire life, preferring stories with a happily-ever-after over just about any other kind. And considering she has an entire line item in her budget for books, she realized it might just be cheaper to write her own stories. It doesn’t take much to keep her happy…a book, a really big glass of wine, and at least thirty minutes of complete silence every day. She still keeps her toes in the world of health care marketing, where she made her living pre-babies. Now she stays home, writing and mommy-ing full time (this translates to almost every day being a ‘pajama day’ at the Sorensen household…don’t judge). She lives in West Michigan with her husband, two exceptionally adorable sons and big, shaggy rescue dog.

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